Specifications on Car Wash Equipment

Car washes have been immortalized in song and on the silver screen. These pop culture icons have come a long way since the inception. There is specific equipment needed now to be able to have a functioning car wash. This equipment will ensure everything runs smoothly.

Pressure washers need to be able to wash a car or truck with speed and accuracy. A pressure washer can serve as a washing and waxing tool. Go to any roadside car wash and the tool used to do everything is a pressure washer. A pressure washer runs at approximately 750 pounds per square inch. This PSI makes sure that any grime, grit and dust are all washed away from the vehicle. The unloader valve will put out a little more than three gallons per minute of wash. A regular pressure washer has a three foot wand and weighs approximately 100 pounds.

Most self-serve car washes have a variety of choices when it comes to washing, waxing and drying a vehicle. A self-serve car wash will have a few heavy-duty vacuum cleaners around. These vacuum cleaners will run between 10 and 25 horsepower. The hose for the vacuum cleaner can be up to 15 feet long. There are timers in place that can be adjusted by the owner. The overall vacuum cleaner size can be up to 72 inches by 32 inches.

For car washes that are not self-serve there are machines that do the work for the vehicle owner. These machines can wash everything from a compact car to a heavy-duty truck. The machine will adjust to the type of vehicle as it is led through the car wash. Each machine will weigh approximately 5,000 pounds. The horsepower, which is about 10, is relatively low compared to other machines of this size. This car washing machine puts out roughly 40 gallons of water per minute. Some people ride in the vehicle while it is being washed, most car washes do not advise this action.